Blog of the Vice-Chancellor of the Papua New Guinea University of Technology

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Thursday, 7 March 2013

Press Statement to be delivered 9 March 2013 upon arrival at NADZAB airport Lae

(The statement which I never gave, because I was deported again on 9 March.

This
time the excuse for my deportation was that I need to apply for a new
visa and work permit. Last year, migration made an error and classified
me as religious worker. We joked in the management team, this was
because I was supposed to perform miracles: no extra funding and a lot
more students for UNITECH.

For over 1 year, I used this visa to
travel in and out of the country, and it was never a problem so far.
Yesterday, I was not told what wrong with the current visa, I was just
told to apply for a new one. As always, I was given nothing in writing.

My
visa clearly states: work permit for University of Technology and is
valid for 3 years with multiple-entries. Why should I apply for a new
visa? It opens an opportunity to decline it for some other reason.

I guess this is a case of not trying to apply logic to this. I hope to come back to PNG soon, maybe they offer me citizenship now for trying so hard? AS)

Press Statement Upon Arrival in NADZAB Airport, Lae 9 March 2013.

After
1 month of involuntary exile, I come back as Vice-Chancellor of UNITECH
to bring peace and stability at the top, and serve the students, their
parents, and all the stakeholders. Our management team will continue
with what I started April last year.

I thank God for
his special protection he has given me and my wife during this ordeal. I
am very grateful that my wife Paulina has been here all the time to
support me.

It is joyful to see the students and all my
friends again, those smart, wise and cheerful Papua New Guineans
friends and colleagues.

A little more than 1 year ago, I
came to take over the Vice-Chancellor position carrying only 2
suitcases and 1 pair of shoes, and I come today again with my 2
suitcases.

I come back to help our wonderful UNITECH
students, because that is the kind of thing I have devoted my life to. I
have not come here to become rich or to make a political career.

First,
I want to gratefully acknowledge Australia for having hosted me during
the month of my exile, and in particular all our friends at James Cook
University - where I am adjunct professor - who have supported me
throughout. I am sure good things for UNITECH will come from these
collegial friendships.

I took myself out of the
conflict with the University Council in November. PM made a great
gesture trying to solve the conflict, and decided to suspend me for 2
months, until 14th of March, while the issues were being sorted out.

Now
it is time for me to come back. I used my time well, and I believe that
my contacts will soon assure that UNITECH will have the fastest
internet and the cheapest textbooks of all universities in the country.
My stay abroad lasted longer than expect due to some awkward confusion
with migration procedures.

The last weeks, UNITECH students have wisely decided NOT to boycott classes but use other means to express their view point.

We
hope now that the members of the dissolved Council will finally let the
management team, and the Interim Council do their jobs. We need a
de-politicised, professional university management, if we want to move
UNITECH forwards.

The last weeks and months, UNITECH
Staff has also showed restrained and a willingness to postpone issues
until UNITECH governance has been fixed, as per government policy.

I
come to bring leadership and stability at the top. Parents need not
fear. There is a Chancellor a Vice-Chancellor and Registrar to sign the
degree for the graduation on the 6th of April, and there can be no doubt
about who they are.

About Me

Committed to making a real difference by leading positive change in higher education.

For over 10 years
from 1993-2004, I worked in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean
in the field of environmental and sustainable development policy, and
environmental economics. My research interest is the role of technology and private business in the development of countries.

As an academic I have 17 peer review publications in various humanities and social sciences disciplines, supervised 5 PhD students and 18 Masters thesis.

As a consultant I worked as head of the environmental
studies department of SIDE, S.A. a consultancy company with
office in Mexico City, San José, and Lima I worked closely together
with many government organizations and private companies. For the World Bank’s Economic Development Institute I carried out two regional studies on sustainable development policies. For the European Commission I wrote one report on corporate social responsiblity, and one on the green economy for the European External Action Service.

Currently, I am Vice-Chancellor or Chief Executive Officer of the Papua New Guinea University of Papua New Guinea, in Lae.